Before selecting a remodeling contractor, you should do the following:

• Plan your project from start to finish.
• Be specific in explaining exactly what you want.
• Be sure to approve any architectural plans that are involved before the contract work begins.
• Compare costs before making a financial commitment.
• Discuss bids in detail with each contractor.
• Ask the contractor for local references and find out if he or she is a member of a professional remodelers association.
• Contact your Better Business Bureau to learn how long a contractor has been in business.
• Find out if a contractor is insured against claims covering workers compensation, property damage, and personal liability.
• Check with state, county, or city housing authorities to be sure that a contractor meets all area licensing/bonding requirements.

Before selecting a remodeling contractor, you should carefully plan your project from start to finish. For example, if your project involves a room addition, determine exactly what your needs are, how the room is to be used, and what you want the completed job to look like. It is a good idea to coordinate your color schemes and draw a simple floor plan using miniature tables and chairs to lay out the room arrangement.